Improving Fisheries Sustainability in Southeast Asia:the Programs of SEAFDEC

By Ms. Malinee Smithrithee, SEAFDEC Secretary-General

At the Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean

8 Nov. 2019, Bangkok, Thailand

SEAFDEC Secretariat and Departments

Secretariat, Thailand

Training Department, Thailand

Marine Fisheries Research Department, Singapore

Aquaculture Department, Philippines

Marine Fishery Resource Development and Management Department, Malaysia

Inland Fishery Resource Development and Management Department, Indonesia

More than 20

million persons

employed in

fisheries-

related sectors

Fisheries

productions:

capture

fisheries (45%),

and

aquaculture

(55%)

Trawl (45%),

Purse Seine

(30%), Gillnet

(15%), other

gears (10%)

45 million MT

fish production

in 2016

(capture and

aquaculture),

22% of the

world

Fisheries in Southeast Asia

Source: http://www.seafdec.org/fishstat2016/

Mariculture

54%,

Freshwater

33%,

Brackishwater

13%

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is an autonomous inter-governmental body established as a regional treaty organization on 28 December 1967.

Vision

“Sustainable management and development of fisheries and aquaculture to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the Southeast Asian region”

SEAFDEC Strategies

1. Securing the sustainability of fisheries to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the region

2. Supporting the sustainable growth of aquaculture to complement fisheries and contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the region

3. Ensuring the food safety and quality of fish and fishery products for the Southeast Asian region

4. Enhancing trade and compliance of the region’s fish and fishery products with market requirements

5. Addressing cross-cutting issues, such as labor, gender and climate change, where related to international fisheries

6. Empowering SEAFDEC to strengthen its roles in the region and to improve its services to Member Countries

Policy document

• Project-based

• Regional meeting (specific)

SEAFDEC Council Director

Endorsement

ASEAN Mechanism Endorsement

Development of Policy Documents

Program documents

SEAFDEC Program Committee Approval

SEAFDEC Council Director

Endorsement

Development of Program Documents

Development of Program and Policy Documents

Existing Regional Guidelines /

Documentations / Initiatives

Regional Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries (RCCRF)

Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for the ASEAN Region Toward 2020

ASEAN Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing Activities into the Supply Chain

Regional Fishing Vessels Record

ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme

RPOA-Neritic Tuna

RPOA-Capacity

ASEAN-SEAFDEC Common Position on CITES Listed Species

Regional Guidelines on Traceability System for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region

Regional Policy Recommendations on Conservation and Management of Eel Resources and Promotion of Sustainable Aquaculture

ASEAN Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing Activities into the Supply Chain

• 2015: Dopted by 47th SEAFDEC-CM; 23rd ASWGFi; 37th

SOM-AMAF

• Voluntary and non-binding document

• Strategies and Measures in the ASEAN Guidelines:o Managing Fishing Activities within a ASEAN

Member Stateso Regulating Transshipment and Landing of Fish /

Catch across Borderso Preventing Poaching in the EEZs of ASEAN

Member Stateso Controlling Illegal Fishing and Trading Practices of

Live Reef Food Fish, Reef-based Ornamentals and Endangered Aquatic Species

o Strengthening the Management of Fishing in the High Seas and RFMO Areas

• 2018~19: evaluation on status of implementation of the Guidelines

COMBATING IUU FISHING

ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme• Improvement of the traceability for capture

fisheries toward the development of common regional catch documentation scheme/system “ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme (ACDS)"

• Concept note of the ACDS endorsed by 25ASWGFi (May 2017)

• Objectives• Provide unified framework that will

enhance traceability of fish and fishery products for effective management

• Enhance the credibility of fish and fishery products for intra-regional and international trade; and

• Prevent entry of fish and fishery products from IUU fishing activities into the supply chains.

Regional Fishing Vessels Record

• 2015: Development of a database system as regional inventory of fishing vessels starting from 24 meters in length and over since 2015

• Endorsed by 45th SEAFDEC Council; 22ASWGFi; and 35th SSOM

• Manage and update RFVR database for fishing vessels 24m in length and over

• Information sharing through the RFVR database among AMS

• Regional capacity building: RFVR database; surveillance, inspection, enforcement, etc.

• Collaborate with other relevant initiatives e.g. FAO Global Record of fishing vessels

• Web-based application• User name + password• Updating information by

MCs twice a year• Regional meeting

annually

RPOA-Capacity• 2015

• RTC on development of RPOA for management of fishing capacity organized by SEAFDEC in collaboration with DOF Malaysia

• Expert group meeting to draft the RPOA-Capacity

• 2016: SEAFDEC CM; 24th

ASWGFi; 38th AMAF

NPOA-CapacityMalaysia

RPOA-Capacity

Guide for the management of fishing capacity in the region, and as reference for the development of respective countries National Plan of Action for Management of Fishing Capacity

Main parts:

(1) assessment of fishing capacity

(2) preparation and implementation of national plans

(3) international consideration

(4) required urgent measures for the regional fisheries management

(5) mechanism to promote implementation.

RPOA- Neritic Tuna• 45th SEAFDEC-CM (2013) endorsed the

proposal

• 17th FCG/ASSP (2014) endorsed the first draft

• 1st SWG Meeting on Stock Assessment of Neritic Tuna in the ASEAN Region

• Mandate to carry out stock assessment for pelagic resources by SWG Neritic Tuna

• Sharing information result from the regional study to RFMOs

• 25th ASWGFi noted on suggestion for managing catch level of longtail tuna and kawakawa in Indian Ocean and South China Sea

• Regional Guidelines on Traceability System for Aquaculture Products in the ASEAN Region

• Regional Policy Recommendations on Conservation and Management of Eel Resources and Promotion of Sustainable Aquaculture

• Regional Guidelines on Cold Chain Management for Seafood

• Regional Technical Guidelines for Early Warning System for Aquatic Animal Health Emergencies

• Policy Guidelines for Regional Conservation and Management of Tropical Eels in Southeast Asia

OTHER POLICY DOCUMENTS/GUIDELINES

Regional Collaborative Partners